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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: cue · bank · rash · stem · scale · leaves · lash · bulb

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. cue — for pool
  3. bank — for money
  4. bank — of a river
  5. bank — for money
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. cue — a hint
  9. rash — hasty
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. cue — a signal
  13. scale — in music
  14. bulb — for light
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. scale — size or range
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. bulb — for light
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. stem — to come from
  24. rash — a series

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com